LINDA SHOEMAKER: Entertainer is racist, hateful

Rush Hudson Limbaugh III, born Jan. 12, 1951, is an American radio host and conservative political commentator. “The Rush Limbaugh Show” is a nationally syndicated talk show that airs throughout the U.S. He has been credited with reviving AM radio in the U.S. and was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1993.

National Review magazine, in a ’93 cover story, called him “The Leader of the Opposition” during the Clinton administration. He is a best-selling author, with two titles on the New York Times best seller list in the 1990s. (Information courtesy of Wikipedia.)

Thus, Limbaugh has a unique opportunity to influence American society. But, is he good for the GOP?

When Jack Cowan asked the party chairs if we wanted to write about Limbaugh, I hesitated. I do not like Limbaugh and, for very sound reasons, do not listen to his program. I have tried on a few occasions, but quickly changed the station to hear “oldies.”

Limbaugh is a bombastic hatemonger, a misogynist, a schoolyard bully who is not to be taken seriously because much of what he says is not true. He is not a credible commentator, but an entertainer, if you like that sort of ranting.

Imagine these two scenarios: One worker leaves her car to enter the office, having just listened to Three Dog Night’s “Joy to the World.” Another worker leaves his car, having listened to Limbaugh on the way to work. The first driver is singing, “Joy to the world; all the boys and girls. Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea. Joy to you and me.”

The other has heard Limbaugh say of Michael J. Fox, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease, “He is exaggerating the effects of the disease. He’s moving all around and shaking and it’s purely an act. ... This is really shameless of Michael J. Fox. Either he didn’t take his medication or he’s acting.”

Or perhaps he heard Limbaugh say, “When a gay person turns his back on you, it’s anything but an insult — it’s an invitation. The difference between Los Angeles and yogurt is that yogurt comes with less fruit.” On homelessness, Limbaugh has said, “One of the things I want to do before I die is conduct the Homeless Olympics. The 10-meter shopping cart relay, the dumpster dig, and the hop, skip and trip.”

He has said, “The only people who worry about the environment are wackos, dunderheaded alarmists and prophets of doom.”

About NAFTA: “If we are going to start rewarding no skills and stupid people — I’m serious, let the unskilled jobs, let the kinds of jobs that take absolutely no knowledge whatsoever to do — let stupid and unskilled Mexicans do that work.”

Finally, speculating on how a Mexican won the New York marathon: “An immigration agent chased him for the last 10 miles.”

Who would you prefer as a co-worker? The Limbaugh effect is totally negative. At a time when Republicans are dealing with the aftershock of a Democratic landslide electoral victory in the presidential election and significant losses in Congress, inspirational role models are needed.

Unfortunately, the GOP finds itself stuck with the likes of Limbaugh and Michael Steele.

The new Republican National Committee chair, Steele, had the nerve to say that Limbaugh was “an entertainer” and his rhetoric is “incendiary” and “ugly.” Showing a remarkably weak spine, Steele later apologized to Limbaugh.

Will Limbaugh’s leadership inspire new followers, people who are thoughtful and respectful? Will it encourage Hispanics to vote for the GOP? What about women?

Limbaugh has said: “Women were doing quite well in this country before feminism came along.” In fact, women did not have the right to vote before feminism came along.

I believe that for both parties we need leaders who bring out the best in us. President Obama tries to do just that. As the nation’s first black president, he is working mightily to heal the wounds caused by racism.

Even there, Limbaugh has shown his typical insensitivity. He lost a job with ESPN for racist comments and, on his radio show, played a song by Paul Shanklin, “Barack the Magic Negro,” sung to the tune of “Puff the Magic Dragon.”

Rush Limbaugh is not good for the GOP and he is not good for you. Look elsewhere for your entertainment. Seek out those who build and not those who drive wedges and destroy. Especially now, America needs the best each of us can offer.

Linda Shoemaker is chairwoman of the Tom Green County Democratic Party.